'Oh my word, what can Baaeed do up in trip? It's going to be spectacular'

Superstar Baaeed provoked a wide difference of opinion among the TV experts after stretching his unbeaten run to nine under Jim Crowley in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

The champion miler, who is officially rated the best horse in the world, is now set to step up in trip for the Juddmonte International at York over 1m2½f next month.

That prospect had Jason Weaver licking his lips with anticipation and the former Classic-winning jockey said on air on ITV: "Oh my word, what can he do over a mile and a quarter? It is going to be spectacular.

"He jumps, he switches off. He was set a bit of a target. Jim gives him one little reminder as to what is required and he goes and opens up in the closing stages. He goes there and just does enough."

But his ITV Racing colleague Kevin Blake was far from convinced about Baaeed's stamina, even though he is a brother to 1m5f winner Hukum.

'Class will overcome most things'

The pundit said: "Everybody assumes he will stay, he's a full-brother to Hukum. But mechanically he's a very different horse to Hukum, to me this is a fast miler with a turn of foot."

There was a similar difference of opinion among the experts before the peerless Frankel made a successful step up to a mile and a quarter in the Juddmonte International in 2012.

"I was worried about Frankel up to the extended ten at York for the reason that he was over-exuberant and class will overcome most things," Blake said.

"Class may carry this fellow to ten and a half and beyond. If he was an ordinary horse I'd be very concerned but this is an extraordinary horse."

Baaeed is unchanged at 4-7 favourite for the Juddmonte International with Paddy Power after Wednesday's success.

Reaction: 'York has ruptured many a reputation'

By James Hill, tipster

That was another impressive display from Baaeed. It's difficult to find any flaws in him right now, but things will be different at York next month for the Juddmonte International when he steps into new territory over 1m2½f.

Let's not forget, York has ruptured many a reputation down the years. In this race alone, great champions like Brigadier Gerard and Golden Horn have come a cropper. The Knavesmire is unique right from the long walk across the course from the stables, and when the ground turns soft conditions can become very hard work.

Baaeed can cope with York, he can cope with the step up in trip, but his stamina will surely be tested, and I'd be very surprised if the best mile-and-a-quarter horses don't line up to take him on.

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Jim Crowley relishing step up in trip after Baaeed extends unbeaten run to nine

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